The scene of a smash and grab robbery in Selfridges last night Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Metropolitan Police said today that all six men who went into the busy store were wearing burkhas and they stole a number of expensive watches, whose value is still being confirmed, before making off on motorcyles ridden by accomplices.

Advertisement

"This was abrazen robbery, and appears to have been well planned and thought through.Fortunately no one was injured. The store was very busy and this will have beena shocking thing for people to witness.

"I'd like to thank those members of the public who stepped in and detainedour two suspects. Their quick thinking and brave actions have helped ourinvestigation."

Two men have been arrested after members of the public pinned them down in a "smash and grab" robbery at Selfridges. The two suspects were detained after coming off their moped as they tried to make a getaway from the department store in London's busiest shopping street.

Matthew Carrozo witnessed two men being apprehended by police shortly after the attempted "smash and grab" raid at Selfridges department store in central London. The 28-year-old said he was having a drink with friends when he heard the sound of a moped crashing.

Someone noticed a bag had fallen off the moped and that it had opened and a bunch a watches fell out. The duffle bag was full of watches and jewellery.

He said one man was dressed in full motorcycle gear while a second man dressed in a burka had been on the back of the moped, and fell onto the ground.

The first guy pegged it down Charlotte Street and then he was held to the ground as other people were getting involved. He really put up a struggle. When cops turned up they put him in the back of a van and he was kicking and screaming. The other man was injured and is being attended to by paramedics.

Apparently it was just an accident and the moped slipped on a grate on the ground. We were totally stunned by what we saw.